Web Resources

1 | 2 | Page 3 | 4

CELEBRITY EQUINOX
When we checked out of The Athenaeum, we headed back to Heathrow to catch a bus to South Hampton for our preview cruise of the new Celebrity Equinox. I wrote about that a few weeks ago but here's that story and video.

SALISBURY, ENGLAND
When we returned from the preview cruise, the good folks at Celebrity gave us a choice – go directly back to London or get a tour of Salisbury and Stonehenge. Of course we chose the latter. The drive from the port of South Hampton to Salisbury was 25 minutes, making this is a much better town to stay in than South Hampton. So, if you're cruising out of South Hampton, keep Salisbury in mind.



SALISBURY CATHEDRAL
The most popular attraction in Salisbury is the Salisbury Cathedral, which was built 750 years ago (here's its complete history). Pilgrims have been coming here for centuries to worship and marvel at (or climb) Britain's tallest spire. Visitors are awed by the beauty and scale of the cathedral's interior and to see one of the three original Magna Cartas. The other copies are held at The British Library and the Lincoln Castle (where The Da Vinci Code was filmed). The cathedral is not just an attraction but still a house of worship where mass is held every day. The times vary so here's a link for more information.

STONEHENGE HISTORY
Pretty much everyone who visits Salisbury Castle goes to Stonehenge as well. The prehistoric monument is just up the road (8.1 miles/13 kilometers) in Wiltshire. I've always wanted to come here since it's one of the most famous sites in the world . After seeing it in person, I still can't fathom how the heck people back in 2500 BC were able to transport and lift these monstrous stones. No one is exactly sure how it was created or why but archaeological evidence suggests that it served as a burial ground.

VISITING STONEHENGE
There was lots of traffic when we got close but there it was, sitting right on top of a small hill just a few hundred yards off the main road in the green English countryside. It's gotten commercial as of late (so I hear) as they now have a fence around the area and charge an admission fee of £7 for adults, £3 for children and £17 for a family (two adults, three children). Stonehenge itself is owned by the Crown but managed by English Heritage while the surrounding land is owned by the National Trust. One thing is for sure: it's amazing to see it once but I don't think I need to go back. Check their website for hours.

BLUEHENGE
Stonehenge is fascinating, but it's not exactly news. What is new is the recent discovery of what is being called Bluehenge. Unearthed just this past summer, Bluehenge is another site of prehistoric stones arranged similarly to those at Stonehenge. With 27 stones, compared to Stonehenge's 56, the new site is being called one of the most important prehistoric finds in decades. The site is believed to have been used in conjunction with Stonehenge. Its name comes from the fact that it was constructed using blue Welsh stones. Read more here.

1 | 2 | Page 3 | LAST PAGE







Copyright 2009 JohnnyJet, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.